When it comes to selecting a new pair of corrective lenses, people often feel like they are scared of the outcome. The process of picking out the best possible match of glasses or contact lenses depends on a variety of things. However, it does not have to be a complicated one. With a little background knowledge and some observant behavior in the glasses shop, you can select the best possible match for you.

Ensure the Frames You Select Match Your Style

Lets take a look at why people avoid wearing their corrective lenses in general. It is important to remember that everyone is unique, so opinions on style will not apply to everyone. However it is a good idea to keep style in mind to avoid regretting your choice later on.

When people purchase glasses that do not have the correct look, feel, or style they like they will often stop wearing them. Glasses are on your face most of the time (for most of us, all of the time). It is important to ensure you actually like the frames you pick out and that it matches your style and flair.

Pay Attention to the Earpiece of Your Frames

Believe it or not, the earpieces of your glasses really do make a difference. Certain frames are made wider than others, and all of these frames have different backings on them. Some earpieces are straight with little rubber stoppers on them while others are rounded with a more hard plastic end to them.

If you select a frame that is too wide for your face, with a straight earpiece to it, they may fall off your face when you look down. It is really important that you move your head around in normal positions when trying on a new pair of frames. This will ensure that the glasses do not fall off your face when you are going about your regular routine during the day.

Watch Out For Sunglasses

Prescription sunglasses may sound like an amazing idea; however, your prescription can actually make it a very bad idea. Some prescriptions (specifically those with a high index lens) cannot be curved to match the style of sunglasses that most people desire. This is something to keep in mind as a lot of glasses places will sell you sunglasses regardless of your prescription.

When you have a high index prescription, your lens often has a curve to it when it is done. If you change the shape of this curve it will reflect light inaccurately into your eye and distort the images you see resulting in your prescription sunglasses being pretty much useless to you. If you really want sunglasses and you require a high index lens, you may want to consider purchasing glasses with easy clips, or create sunglasses from a regular frame.

Pay Attention to the Shape of Your Face

It is important to pay attention to the shape of your face when selecting glasses. There are a few different basic shapes that everyones face fits into. Frame styles suit some faces better than others. If you ignore the shape of your face, you may end up with glasses that make you look older or just do not suit you very well.

Basically, try to go with the contours of your face. If you have a square shaped jaw, rounded glasses often help to soften the edges. If you have a round face, glasses that are squared accentuate the contours of your face. Oval faced people are lucky, as they often look the best in anything. Heart shaped face people often look best in square glasses as well. Try to go with the shape of your face and you should end up fine.

Dealing with Nose Pads

There are basically two types of glasses, those with nose pads and those without nose pads. Which one you prefer really comes down to personal preference. Both styles are common today and there is not much difference between the two; however, it is important to familiarize yourself with the slight differences to ensure you select the most comfortable frames for you.

Glasses without nose pads tend to sit lower on your nose which may not be a good thing if you have your nose pierced as they may slide down and touch your piercing. These frames do not move often, but if you perspire a bit, you may notice that they start to slide down your face a bit. The best part about having glasses without nose pads is that they tend to look sportier and they will not leave little red marks on your nose from the glasses sitting there. Glasses that do not have nose pads are often made of plastic materials, so they are durable and very light weight.

When you are wearing glasses with nose pads, you will get a little red mark on your nose where the nose pads sit. They will not move around your face (unless they are too big and the earpiece is straight) and they are generally made from any material. Some are mental and some are plastic. Over time, nose pads can irritate the skin on your nose if you sweat a lot. The styles of glasses that have nose pads are vast. There are more frames available with nose pads than without. However, it all boils down to personal preference.

Lenses

Once you have selected your frame you are going to have to deal with the lenses. Now, this part is not as complicated as you may think. Most of the stuff is already taken care of for you as your lenses are basically selected by the prescription you require. There are a few little things that you may want to consider, however, when it comes to getting your lenses.

There are a variety of different coatings you can get on your lenses to protect them from things like scratches and glare. You can also get a transition lens coating put onto your lenses that will make them transition into sunglasses in certain lightings. The only thing you should keep in mind when considering transition lenses is that they do not transition in a vehicle. They only work when you are in direct sunlight. Thus being said, if you were hoping to use them while driving you are better off getting sunglasses made, selecting frames with an easy clip option, or wearing contacts and sunglasses.

Care for Your Glasses or Contacts

Caring for your glasses or contact lenses is pretty easy. In terms of glasses, all you need to do is clean the lenses with a special glasses cloth you will receive with your glasses and some water (or some cleaning solution you can purchase at the glasses place). You should always keep your glasses in the case provided for you when you are not wearing them to prevent any scratching and protect your glasses.

In terms of contact lenses, you should always wash your hands really good before handling your contacts. Soak them in the solution provided and always put them in fresh solution when you put them in the little case you get with them.

As long as you take proper care of your eye care products, and use them on a regular basis when your doctor has told you to use them, you are on your way to healthy and happy eyes for a very long time to come. It is also a good idea to ensure you go to regular eye care check-ups to ensure your prescription has not changed and that everything is going well.

A lot of parents think that they need to wait until their child demonstrates signs of requiring glasses before they take them in for their first eye exam. This could actually be more harmful than helpful for your child. A childs preschool and kindergarten experiences are based on visual learning. This is where children learn by seeing shapes, letters, numbers, and colours. They begin to recognize sequences and patterns as well. If your childs vision is blurry due to an eye condition going unnoticed, this could make their early learning experiences very frustrating for your child. Unfortunately, most young children do not realize they have vision issues as blurry vision is likely all they have known, so they think it is normal to see things like that initially.

Generally speaking, the best time to test a childs vision is when they are between the ages of two and a half to three and a half. The testing for children of this age is rather different from the standard exam that is done on older children or adults. This is mainly because the childs speech is limited and the eye doctor will require working around this. It is important to note that your childs eyes will have been checked shortly after he/she is born to ensure they can see properly at that point. It is up to the parents to maintain these eye exams for their children on a regular basis.

What to Expect From an Eye Exam for Young Children

When you go to an eye exam for the first time with your little one, it is normal to feel a little bit anxious about the process as it is something new. Some parents find it is not a very nerve-wracking experience at all, while others find themselves shaken with nerves until the process is over. Generally, the eye doctor will use a series of lights hidden in toys to see if your child can see the light when it lights up. Simply put, if your child looks towards the light when it is lit up, you likely have nothing major to worry about.

When your child is about five years old, they should have their vision and eye alignment evaluated by an eyecare professional. This will assist in ensuring there are no major issues later down the line and that everything is developing properly. If either of these two tests are failed by your child, you should have them evaluated by your pediatrician or family doctor to ensure there are no other complications.

Once your child is five the eye care screenings are every two years unless your child wears corrective lenses. If you child wears glasses it is important to make an appointment once each year to ensure there is no change to their prescription. Children should always have an up-to-date prescription to ensure they are able to learn the most efficiently while they are at school or in any other learning environment.

Looking Out For Eye Issues Before They Become Serious

As with any condition, there are signs that your child is having difficulty with their vision before you go to an eye doctor. Even if you have taken your child to an eye doctor in the past, it is important to make sure that you keep an eye on them just in case they develop the need for glasses later on between eye doctor visits.

Children suffering from vision problems may rub their eyes constantly, they may experience extreme sensitivity to light, poor focusing, poor visual tracking of an object (following an object with their eyes), abnormal alignment or movement of the eyes after six months of age, chronic redness of the eyes, chronic tearing of the eyes, a white pupil instead of a black one, inability to see objects at a distance, inability to read the blackboard, squinting when looking at objects, difficulty reading, or sitting too close to the television. Should you notice any of these problems, or crossed eyes, you should have your child examined by an eye care professional immediately to ensure there is no permanent damage from the situation.

Common Eye Issues Children Have

Amblyopia, otherwise known as a lazy eye, is a very common issue that many children must deal with. This is basically poor vision in one eye that does not necessarily appear to be abnormal. The eye itself can appear completely normal. The two most common causes of this are crossed eyes and a difference in the refractive error between both of the eyes. If this is left untreated, amblyopia can cause irreversible vision loss in the affected eye. The best time to treat this issue is during preschool years, however, it is easily treatable as long as the child is seen by an eyecare professional earlier on.

Another common condition with children is a misalignment in the eyes known as strabismus. This may cause the eyes to turn inward in a cross eye fashion, they may turn outward, up or down as well. If the same eye is chronically misaligned it may result in other issues such as amblyopia (lazy eye). There are different treatments available for this that you may want to discuss with your eyecare professional such as patches, specially designed glasses, or surgery.

The most common condition that children suffer from today is refractive errors. This basically means that the shape of the eye does not bend the light properly making images blurry. These issues may cause amblyopia if they are left untreated. Nearsightedness (poor vision at a distance), farsightedness (poor vision close up), and astigmatism (the eye is basically shaped more like a football instead of rounded) are the most common issues known.

Glasses and Your Little One

If your child requires glasses, dont worry it is quite common in our society today. It is, however, a good idea to allow your child to pick out their own glasses as they are going to have to wear them. You want to ensure your child actually likes the glasses they pick out, otherwise they will be less likely to actually wear them. Plastic frames are the best for children aged two and younger. If your older child selects metal frames, it is a good idea to make sure they have spring hinges as those are known to be more durable. There are elastic straps that you can purchase to help keep glasses on your toddlers face if he/she is an active little one that likes to try to tear them off his/her face.

For children that require a high index lens, they are not going to be able to get plastic lenses as they require special lenses. Unfortunately, high-index-lens patients are limited to many options in terms of their lenses. However, they are often available in a thinner and lighter material than traditional glasses for children.

Children should have polycarbonate lenses (especially if they play sports) as it is a tough, shatterproof, transparent thermoplastic material that is used to make thin, light lenses. They are impact-resistant so they will not shatter while your child is wearing them; however, they are known to scratch more easily than plastic lenses. If you have a very young child it is likely to stick to the plastic lenses as it will prevent shattering and most scratches as long as they are cared for properly.

Maintaining the Healthiest Eyes Possible

Having healthy eyes is incredibly important during all stages of life. It is very important that you follow the advice that your eyecare professional gives you, and you should always go to eye exams once every two years for adults under 65 and once every year for your child. If you require more frequent visits than the standard amount, your eye care professional will let you know and make the appropriate appointments with you. As long as you follow the advice and guidance of your eyecare professional, most eye issues can be prevented or assisted with treatments, glasses, or contact lenses.

When people go to the eye doctor they may leave thinking their job is automatically done. Too many people ignore the advice and care of their eye health professional. When you leave the eye doctor, you should always fill any prescriptions you may have. This cannot be stressed enough. There are multiple methods that you have available to you depending on your specific condition and needs.

Prescription Glasses

There are multiple types of corrective lenses you can get in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Glasses can be great and you shouldn’t feel ashamed for needing them. Lots of people need glasses in today’s day and age. Glasses should be selected based on your own unique style and the shape of your face. There are many different types of glasses that suit some face shapes better than others. It is important to either research your face shape and the types of glasses that are better for you, or ask someone at the local frames shop.

Other than the shape of glasses, there are many other options available to you. Should you require an easy solution to sunglasses in a vehicle while driving, you can easily pick up a pair of easyclip glasses or get a pair of prescription sunglasses made for yourself depending on your prescription. There are plastic frames and metal ones, frames with and without nose pads.

It really depends on what you prefer and the style you want to go with. Not all designs and styles of frames are available with or without nose pads. The frames that have nose pads have nose pads and the ones that do not are not available in any other style. Frames are unique and made with different sizes and thicknesses. Generally, the thicker your glasses are the younger the effect on your face is. On the other hand, if you go with a thinner frame it is virtually invisible making it less noticeable on your face.

Prescription Sunglasses

Initially sounding like a really good idea, prescription sunglasses may shock you. Unfortunately, these babies are only available for some prescription types and are not recommended for high index prescriptions. Prescription sunglasses can be a good idea if you drive around a lot, or if you work outside as the sun’s harmful rays can damage your eyes if you do not take the necessary precautions to prevent this from happening. Prescription sunglasses, again, will only work for some people. There are easy clip and transition lenses available for people who require sunglasses and have a high index lens.

Contact Lenses

For most people, contact lenses are a very real solution in terms of invisible corrective lenses. Contacts are very small lenses that are placed directly on the eye. These lenses need to be manually put in and removed in about an eight hour period maximum. Contacts are excellent for people who wish to avoid people knowing they require corrective lenses, or for people with high index lenses who wish to wear sunglasses outside.

Contact lenses are not for everyone. Some people cannot stand the idea of touching their eye, or even coming close to touching their eye, so they are unable to get the contact in or out. In order to be allowed to wear contact lenses, one must first demonstrate the ability to put in and remove the contacts in front of an eye care professional.

Contact lens wearers should go to regular contact lens checkups with their eye care professional every six months to ensure their contacts are fitting properly still and that everything is working the best it possibly can be. There are many different things that need to be taken into consideration when a person is wearing contact lenses. This is why it is very important that wearers maintain regular checkups. If you do not think you want to go to this many visits, or if you feel uneasy about putting something directly on your eye, you probably should not wear contact lenses.

When you initially go to look at contact lenses, you are going to notice that there are a lot of different types of lenses. Some are shaped differently than others. In most cases, the type of contact lens you require is already determined by your prescription. However, you do have a few options available to you. Contacts can be a lot of fun if you ever wanted a different eye color, or even something unique.

For example, there are custom contacts that look like cat eyes, or ones that have an all-white pupil. These special contacts are, unfortunately, not available for all prescriptions, so if you are interested in something like that you should ask your local eye care professional about the options that you have available for your unique condition.

Corrective Eye Surgery

In some cases, it is possible to have laser eye surgery that will correct the issue in the eye and make it so that the patient has perfect vision without needing corrective lenses. There are many different procedures available to you should you be considering corrective eye surgery. You can undergo surgery to reshape the eye itself, laser corrective procedures to help a variety of different issues, and non-laser options for refractive issues. If you are truly considering this option it is best to discuss the possibilities with your eye care professional.

Our eyes change as we age. We need to understand this in order to understand that the type of surgery we may require for our eyes may also change as we age. This is why it is extremely important to talk to your eye doctor about what your best options are and what you should expect from these types of procedures during and after the initial procedure is complete.

Still Unsure?

It is common to feel uneasy about which choice is best for you. When it comes down to it, in the end, it is important to ask yourself if you would feel comfortable with each option if you had to live with that choice for the rest of your life. If the answer you come up with is yes, it is probably a good idea to talk about it with your eye care professional and get things set into motion so that you can have the best vision possible for you.

Most people who wear glasses will tell you it is not a big deal to put on their glasses in the morning and take them off at night. A lot of people who wear contact lenses have a backup pair of glasses handy for when they require taking out their contacts as you can only leave them in for so long before they begin to irritate your eyes.

If you have a high index prescription it is highly recommended that you always have a backup pair of glasses just in case your current glasses break. Think of it this way, the heavier you rely on your corrective lenses to see, the more helpless you would be if those lenses were to be broken accidentally, misplaced, or lost.

The more you require your corrective lenses, the better an idea it is to have a backup pair. That is not to say you should not have a backup pair of glasses otherwise. It is always a good idea for everyone to have a backup pair of glasses as stressing your eyes and forcing them to focus on small print is a great way to ensure you potentially harm your eyes later on and long term.